AROUND TOWN

Hoopla worthy of Hollywood

Allan Block, right, chairman of Block Communications Inc., with wife Susan enjoying VIP night at the new casino.

The Blade/Barbara Hendel
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Nancy and Tim Alter pose with show girls during VIP night at the Hollywood Casino Toledo.

Glitz, glamor, grazing, and gaming. It was all that and more at the Hollywood Casino Toledo VIP night May 24 and positive energy flowed. The VIP night and the daytime event reaped $50,000 each for the YMCA and the Boys and Girls Clubs.

Some folks used valet parking while others parked in the multi-level garage where antique cars were on display at the entrance. Ravishing models in red gowns greeted everyone along with gallant tuxedo-clad doormen. Casino general manager Richard St. Jean and his wife, Claudia, were all smiles.

It was an invitation-only event for 2,000 people and nearly all attended, said John McNamara, the facility marketing operations manager. Another 3,000 people were there during the day.

The sneak peek of the casino included a lavish taste of food from the Take 2 Grill and Epic Buffet where every morsel was fabulous. Seen were Doug and Pam Haynam, Mary Ellen Pisanelli, and Lou Tosi, as well as Edna Brown, Jay Black, and Bob Mack, who said the last time he was here was when he sold the property.

PHOTO GALLERY: Hollywood Casino Toledo VIP night

Allan Block, right, chairman of Block Communications Inc., with wife Susan enjoying VIP night at the new casino.

In the elegant Final Cut Steak & Seafood were Molly Reams Thompson and her husband, Scott Thompson, George and Leslie Chapman, Shannon DeVilbiss Gallup and her husband, Bill Gallup, Linda and Alan Rava, Tom and Eileen Cousino, and Allan Block, chairman of Block Communications Inc., The Blade's parent company, and his wife, Susan Allan Block.

Live entertainment with all styles of music was featured all night long and among those dancing were Marcia Rubini. Many folks, including Tim and Nancy Alter, posed with show girls.

Checking out the gaming tables and slot machines were Alan Kazmaier, Joe Lawless, and son Reed, and Kim Klewer, who called the casino a "world-class facility." Larry Boyer ran into an old friend who is a dealer at the casino, so he was directed to another dealer for conflict of interest sake. Dan Kory tried the games of chance while his better half, Elaine Canning, sipped a cocktail at The Scene sports pub. She was not alone. Among the crowd were Paul and Elise Devers, Richard and Clare Hylant, Craig and Amy Findlay, Phil and Mary Lou Rudolph, Jr., Laneta and Bill Goings, Robin and Scott Libbe, Marcy and Brian McMahon, Chuck Mira, John and Yolanda Szuch, Bruce and Betsy Rumpf, Mickey and Jeff Schaller, Jand and Bob Kervin, Barbara Steele and Alan Kimpel, John and Ann Mangas, Marianne Ballas, Jim and Kay Murray, and Connie Schmidt, chairman of the Boys and Girls Clubs board.

Jay Black and Sen. Edna Brown check out the Epic Buffet.

Employees -- all 1,300 of them from card dealers to maintenance workers to chefs -- gathered for a barbecue in the casinos parking lot Saturday. Nothing fancy, just good food, from burgers and dogs to salads in a casual setting.

The big red carpet opening day was Tuesday. Before the general public came, there were bountiful buffets for VIPs, including Jamie Farr. Then the gates opened and the gamers poured in!